Cooling tower



Dec. 26, o M'NG COOLING TOWER Original Filed Nov. 28,- 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 26, 1933 N- O FLEMING Y 1,941,000

COOLING TOWER Original Filed Nov. 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l l I I I I A r O/ 570/7700 7 Patented Dec. 26, 1933 r IT STATES PATENT orFrcE N' r i e rfie 051m Application November 28, 1927, Serial -N0. 236.1'Z3.

' Renewed March'27,. 1933 e 1 18 Claims. (01. 2 1 111) My invention relates to liquid cooling devices and more particularly to cooling towers.

In many arts where it becomes necessary to dissipatea large amount of heat from objects at 5 a temperature higher than that of the atmosphere, a circulation of water is maintained over these objects and through an atmospheric cooling tower. The latter includes a structure of battle plates over which the water falls so as to become finely divided and drop a considerable distance through the atmosphere. The evaporation ofthewater fromthe surfaces of the drops into which it is divided, as these fall through the air, absorbs heat from these drops so that when the water collects at the bottom of the tower it is cooled toa temperature generally below that of the atmosphere. I U

These towers are usually of large size, and besides consuming valuable space they are unattractive-in appearance, and constitute eyesores wherever they are installed.

It is correspondingly, an objectofmy invention to provide a cooling tower of relatively small size for a given capacity. I a As relianceis placedupon evaporation Within the tower for cooling the water, the tower operates much more effectively whenthe air in the tower is replaced with fresh air from the atmosphere as rapidly as possible. 1 3 It is another object of -my invention to provide a cooling tower in which anartificial current of air is maintained in the tower.

. A yet further object of my invention is to provide a cooling tower in which ,such a'current of air'is setup by energy released by the fallingof the water through the tower. 7 1 Another object of this invention is .to provide a-novel construction for a rotor element capablefwhen rotated, of circulating a medium, or capable of *being rotated when contacted by a medium. I 1

Further objects and advantages will be made manifest in the fbllowingj'description' and in the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of my invention is'illustrated. In the drawings: c

Fig. 1 is a verticalsectional view'of a preferred form of my invention. 7 I

Y Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2+2 of Fig. 1. L

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view. taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. a v

Fig.4-is a vertical-sectional View taken on the .5 "line 4-4,of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical sectional viewstaken on the lines 6-6 and 7-7 of Fig. 2. r

Referring specifically to the drawings:

A cooling tower 10, as shown in Fig. 1, includes a frame 11, which has four mainvertical posts 12 which are preferably-formed of angle iron. The posts 12 are connected by horizontal frame members 13 which extend outward beyond their connection with the vertical posts 12. Supported in superimposed relation upon the extending portions of the horizontal frame members13 are louvresl5 which surround-the frame .11 so as to confine liquidwhich it is desiredto 7 pass downward in a spray through the cooler 10. The posts 12 may rest upon and be secured to a base 16 having side walls 17- which form a shallow container for-liquid which has'been passed downward through the cooler 10. a

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, a cooling space 20 is formed within the frame 11 which {is substantially square in cross-section. Mounted upon the horizontal frame members 13, at intervals throughout the height of the space 20, is a pluo 'rality of floors or platforms 22'which' are'formed 'of spaced stationary baffle boards 24, having ditches 25 formedin their upper surface'sso as to retain a certainamount of liquid which is dropped onto the platforms 22. The platforms 22 are thus superimposed above each other in the cooling space 20. Formed in the center of each of theplatforms 22 is a circular hole 2'7.

Mounted in the coolingspace' 20, so as to be rotatable therein," is a rotor '30. The rotor 30 has a verticalshaft 31 which is axially disposed relativegto the holes 27 the upper end'of which is supported by an anti-friction bearing '32 mounted upon. cross-bars 33 connecting certain of the horizontal frame members 13 at the upper end of the 'frame' ll. The bearing 32 is provided with a sheet metal hood 3% whichis filled with grease to provide lubrication for the bearing 32. The

lower end of the shaft 31 extends into a suitable radial sleeve bearing 35 which'is mounted upon the base 16'.

' Rigidly mounted upon the shaft 31 is a-series of rotor elementsfijs' which are positioned so that one of the elements 38 is disposed opposite" each of the'platforms 22. Each rotor element'38 in- 10 5 cludes a sleeve-like hub 40 which is secured by a v pin 41 to the shaft 31. Extending radiallyifrom' thehub ,40 are spokes 42, end portions of which I are connected by 'horizontal braces 43 and supported by struts 44 connectingthe outer ends of the spokes 42 with the lower end of the hub 40. Mounted upon the upper surfaces of the spokes 42 and the braces 43 are impeller baflie blades 45, each of which has an upper surface 46 which is inclined to the vertical. The slope of all of these blades is uniform, as measured along the horizontal braces 43, so that drops of water falling through the air and coming into contact with these blades will exert a force thereon tending to turn the rotor 30. All of the blades are not, however, radially disposed relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft, but each rotor element 38 is divided into four segments, and each segment contains blades which are parallel to each other and which overlap as shown in Fig. 6 to prevent'any drops of water from passing through the rotor element 38 without imparting thereto the kinetic energy stored therein. The water dropping through the cooling space 20 is thus utilized for turning the rotor 30.

Suitably supported on the upper end of the frame 11 is a liquid spray pipe 50 which terminates in a nozzle 51 centrally disposed in the upper end of the cooling space '20 just above the upper bearing 32 of the rotor 30.

Also supported on the frame 11 in the upper end of the space 20, just beneath the nozzle 51, is a stationary distributing platform 52.

Provided on a lower portion of the frame 11 is a locking bar 55 which, when in full lines position, permits the rotor 30 to rotate but when moved inward into the broken line position 56 locks the member 30 against rotation.

The operation of the coolingtower 10 is as follows:

The locking bar 55 being in its full line position, water is sprayed through the pipe 50 to the nozzle 51 so that -thisis sprayed over the distributing platform 52 and drops in a finely divided state downwardly onto the topmost element 33 of the rotor-30. This water drops from this element on downward and successively passes through all ofthe elements 38. The dropping water impacts againstthe inclined upper surfaces 46 of the impeller baffle blades 45 so as to impart a rotating moment to the rotor 30. The rotor 30 is thus caused to rotate at aspeed of from 10 to 20 revolutions per minute, which sets up a considerabledraft of air in the cooling space 20. This draft of air greatly increases the cooling effect of the air upon the water by side circulation through the passages between the louvres, the air being drawn through the passages immediately above each rotor element, and passing downward through-the-opening 27'of the platform 22 thereadjacent, a portion of thisair being then discharged outward between the louvres immediately below the rotor element, another portion of this air moving downward through the rotor element immediately therebelow. In Fig. 1 I have illustrated by arrows 60 the circulation ,paths asset upby one of the rotor elements 38.

ary baffle boards 24 are inclined slightly inward,

so that water sprayed outward by the rotating 'tables38, when falling on these stationary ba'flie boards, will be carried in'through the ditches25 to the edges of the various hole's'27 where this water will be permitted to drop downward through the current of air set up by the rotor 30.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cooling tower comprising: a frame open to the atmosphere; means for confining a liquid falling in a subdivided state through the atmosphere in the space defined by said frame; and means movable by the impact of said liquid thereagainst for accelerating the action of the atmosphere upon said liquid.

2. A cooling tower comprising: a frame open to the atmosphere; means for confining a liquid falling in a subdivided state through the atmosphere in the space defined by said frame; and means rotatable by the impact of said liquid 'thereagainst for accelerating the action of the atmosphere upon said liquid.

3. A cooling tower comprising: a frame open to the atmosphere; means for confining a liquid falling in a subdivided state through the atmosphere in the space defined by said frame; and means rotatable about a substantially vertical axis by the impact of said liquid thereagainst for accelerating the action of the atmosphere upon said liquid.

4. In a cooling tower, the combination of a frame open to the atmosphere; a rotor element mounted for rotation in said frame; blades mounted upon said element; and means for dropping a liquid to be cooled onto said blades to cause roadapted to circulate air through said rotor element and through said passages; and means for introducing the liquid to becooleol into the cooling space above said rotor element and allowing 'said liquid to drop onto said blades in a manner to turn said rotor element.

6. In a cooling tower, the combination of:

means defining a cooling space; a' platform extending across said space and having an opening therein; a rotor element rotatably mounted in a manner to substantially fill said opening,

said means including-louvres around, said cooling space and providing a primary passage opening on that portion of said cooling spaceabove said rotor element and providing a secondary pason said rotor element adapted when rotated to circulate air-through said passages and throughsaid opening.-

'7. In a cooling tower, the combination of: means defining a cooling space; aplatfcrm extending across said space and having an-opening therein; a rotor-element rotatably mounted in a manner to substantially fill-said opening, said below'said rotor element; and .interspaced blades 1 30 means including louvres around said cooling space and providing a primary passage opening on that portion of said cooling space above said rotor element and providing a secondary passage opening on that portion of said cooling space below said rotor element; and interspac'ed blades on said rotor element adapted when rotated to draw air into said cooling space through saidprimary passage, move this air through said opening in said platform, and discharge said air from said 'cooling space through said secondary passage.

8. A combination as defined=in'claim7inclu'ding means for dropping water to be cooled onto said blades in a manner to rotate said rotor element, said water coming in intimate contact with said air passing through said cooling space under the influence of said blades.

9. In a cooling tower, the combination of: a frame open to the atmosphere and providing a vertically disposed cooling space; a shaft rotatably mounted in said cooling space; a plurality of rotor elements secured to said shaft; a plurality of blades positioned on each of said rotor elements; and means for dropping water through said space in a manner to successively pass through said rotor elements, said blades being so inclined that the impact of said water thereon rotates said rotor elements and said shaft.

10. In a cooling tower providing a vertically disposed cooling space, the combination of a series of platforms in said cooling space, each of said platforms having an opening therein; a shaft extending through said openings and free to rotate in said cooling space; a rotor element secured to said shaft adjacent each of said openings; inclined blades on said rotor elements; and means for introducing the liquid to be cooled into the top of said tower, said liquid passing successively through said rotor elements and exerting a force on said blades tending to turn said shaft.

11. In a cooling tower, the combination of a frame open to the atmosphere and providing a vertically disposed cooling space; a plurality of rotor elements spaced along said cooling space and rotatably mounted therein; blades on each of said rotor elements; and means for introducing water into the top of said cooling space whereby said water may drop successively throughfsaid' rotor elements, the impinging of said water on said blades tending to rotate said rotor elements.

12. In a cooling tower, the combination of: a frame open to the atmosphere and providing a vertically disposed cooling spaceja plurality of rotor elements spaced along'said cooling space and rotatably mounted therein; blades on each of said rotor elements; and means for introducthrough said rotor elements, the impinging of said water on said blades tending to rotate said rotor elements, said frame, including interspaced louvres between each of said rotor elements providing passages communicating between said cooling space and the exterior of said intothe top of said cooling space, said water dropping through said rotor element in a manner to rotate same.

14. A combination as defined in claim 13 in which said platform slopes downward toward said opening.

15. In a cooling tower, the combination of: a frame open to the atmosphere, portions of said frame forming a cooling space; a rotor element rotatably mounted in said cooling space and having inclined blades; said means including a distributing platform above said rotor element;

and means for supplying water to the top of said distributing platform, said water passing therethrough and dropping'onto said rotor element in .a manner to turn same.

16. In a cooling tower, the combination of: a frame open to the atmosphere, portions of said frame forming a cooling space; a shaft extending through said space; a thrust bearing at the top of said shaft for supporting same from said means; a radial bearing in the lower end of said cooling space for journalling the lower end of said shaft; and a rotor element secured to said shaft between said bearings. V

1'7. In a rotor element adapted to be rotated by water falling thereon, the combination of a hub; spokes extending outward from said hub; braces extending between saidspokes; and a plurality of parallel inclined blades between'each pair of spokes, said blades being secured to said spokes and to said braces, said blades being similarly inclined relative to the direction of rotation.

18. In a rotor element adapted to be rotated by water falling thereon, the combination of: a hub; spokes extending outward from said hub; blades supported by said spokes; and struts extending downward from said spokes and being connected to the lower end of said hub, said struts tending to conduct the water passing through said blades toward said hub.

NORMAN O. FLEMING. 

